[Rhodes22-list] Autopilot (was Roger)

[William E. Wickman]

Art,
I didn't know that West sold the extensions and brackets.  I ordered mine
directly from Raymarine.  Mounting the bracket under the tiller, you want
as small a clearance as possible to keep the autotiller as level as
possible, and to reduce the chance of banging your knee on it (although it
is really nicely out of the way).  I got a 6" and 3" push rod extension;
that would be a minimum you should get.  If you order the 6" and 4" you
will probably be OK.  It just affects what spot you drill the hole for the
little mounting cup.  The instruction manual very clearly shows you how to
measure everything.

As far as a close up of the gunwale installation, I don't have one but
there is really nothing to it.  Just get the right sized drill bit and
measure 10 times before drilling the hole.  I recommend that you drill a
pilot hole first, and put down some tape to keep the gelcoat from chipping.

Good luck!  You are gonna love it.

Bill W.




                                                                           
             "Arthur H.                                                    
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                                       Re: [Rhodes22-list] Autopilot (was  
             11/22/2006 01:58          Roger)                              
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Bill,
Oh, Great Autotiller guru - I am sending this before I order an ST1000,
just to verify the extensions and bracket.  Online, West shows 6", 4", and
2" extension rods.  Did you use the 6" (West#142851) and 4" (West#142844)
with the 2" bracket (West#142810).  West doesn't show a 1" bracket.  Do you
have a closeup of the gunwale  installation?

Are you still in the water?  The COE did a job on Lanier, so have to go to
the coast to get some sailing in.  I'm really pondering the wireless
remote.  After all, it's only money...
Thx,
Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: "William E. Wickman" <wewickman at duke-energy.com>
>Sent: Sep 22, 2006 9:57 PM
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Autopilot (was Roger)
>
>
>I may be the most recent Rhodie to install an autopilot.  It was the
>ST1000.  I did not use a mounting bracket, but rather just drilled a hole
>in the gunwale and fit the little mounting cup into it pretty much like
>Bob's setup.  I had to purchase two extension rods and a mounting bracket
>for the underside of the tiller.  The tiller bracket was the 1 inch one,
>and the two extension rods were 6 and 3 (or 4) inches I think.  I mounted
>the power/control plug inside the starboard cubby hole to keep it out of
>the weather and keep from having to drill another hole in my boat.
>
>While I was at it, I installed the wiring to connect my Garmin GPSMAP
76CSx
>to the tiller pilot so I could sail to a waypoint instead of just a
>bearing; again in the cubby hole, and added a 12v socket to power the GPS
>in the cockpit.
>
>I also got the S100 remote control.  It was purely a luxury item and cost
>nearly what the tiller pilot cost, but it has been a fun toy.  I probably
>would not have gotten it, but I got caught up in bidding on eBay and got
it
>for a really good price.  The transmitter module is mounted on the
>starboard bulkhead just to the right of the cooler inside the cabin, and
>has wires running from the circuit breaker panel and out to the tiller
>pilot plug socket.  I can sit at the bow of my boat and steer, or make
>course changes while making a sandwich in the cabin.  Or make adjustments
>while sitting in the cockpit without having to touch the tiller.  It
>certainly isn't essential on a boat our size, but it definitely has the
>"cool" factor.
>
>
>Bill Wickman
>
>
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